Andre Iguodala talks Thursday after being introduced with his new Nuggets uniform in Denver.

Nuggets team president Josh Kroenke, left, and Andre Iguodala talk at a news conference at the Pepsi Center on Thursday, Aug., 16, 2012.

Andre Iguodala, center, talks Thursday after being introduced in Denver by Nuggets president Josh Kroeke and GM Masai Ujiri.

Andre Iguodala, second from right, walks with Nuggets president Josh Kroeke and GM Masai Ujiri to a introduction Thursday in Denver.

Nuggets team president Josh Kroenke, left, and Andre Iguodala talk at a press conference at the Pepsi Center on Thursday, Aug., 16, 2012. The Denver Nuggets acquired All-Star Iguodala from the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a four-team trade.Heather Rousseau, The Denver Post

Carmelo Anthony knows. Say what you want about Carmelo’s tenure in Denver, he knows what the Nuggets are all about. Melo knows the Nuggets’ system.

And while in London for the Olympics, Melo told Andre Iguodala: “You’d be a perfect fit for Coach Karl.”

Iguodala — the defensive-minded, fast-breaking swingman — is now in Denver and was literally in Denver on Thursday for his introductory news conference. The Nuggets, of course, acquired Iguodala from the 76ers earlier this month in the four-team trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Lakers.

Iguodala made some news at the news conference, admitting that he wants to sign with Denver long-term. He is currently under contract for 2012-13 and has a player option for 2013-14.

“We weren’t coming into this thinking this will be a one-year deal,” Iguodala said.

Denver executives Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri were also at the news conference. Ujiri spoke about how the team would like to lock down “Iggy” to a long-term deal, something he will look into in the coming season.

Kroenke has actually known Iguodala for years. The Nuggets’ president, a former college player at Missouri, is friends with numerous former players from Arizona, where Iggy played.

“He brings a veteran presence, a winning presence,” Kroenke said. “He wants to win. He’s going to bring that mentality to our team and instill it in a lot of our younger guys.”

Iguodala said he spoke to Nuggets coach George Karl on the phone, and the coach “didn’t sugarcoat anything,” telling Iguodala that he needs him to improve getting to the foul line and making free throws.

It’s understood that Iggy will be a good fit with Karl because of the swingman’s dedication to getting down the floor in transition.

“Just run fast, it’s pretty simple, especially with a great point guard,” he said. “The pass ahead is really what gets it going. And I’ll do the same thing getting the rebound and pushing it on the break.”

Benjamin Hochman was a sports columnist for The Denver Post until August 2015 before leaving for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his hometown newspaper. Hochman previously worked for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, winner of two Pulitzer Prizes for its Hurricane Katrina coverage. Hochman wrote the Katrina-themed book “Fourth and New Orleans,” published in 2007.

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